Name the place, the time and I will be there.

This was the response of Nacionalista Party (NP) presidential candidate Senator Manuel Villar to the challenge of Liberal Party (LP) standard-bearer Sen. Benigno Aquino III for a one-on-one debate.

“I see fora and public debates as an opportunity to present plans and programs of government to the general public,” Villar said in a statement released to Senate reporters.

“This is after all the responsibility of each candidate – to communicate one's vision for the nation even as one's capability, competence, and record of accomplishment are tested through reason and inquiry,” he further said.

Villar said he will gladly accept Aquino's request if the purpose of the challenge is to communicate one's vision for the nation.

But he will decline the invitation if the debate will be a venue for mudslinging.

“If such were the purpose of the challenge, I will gladly accede. Name the place, name the time, I will be there. If, however, it is the intention of anyone – individual or party – to find a platform for senseless argumentation and mudslinging with the hope of calling attention unto oneself, then I will have to decline,” the NP candidate said.

“Grown men, more so candidates to the nation's highest elective post, should have more productive endeavors to pursue than engage one another in mudslinging contests,” Villar stressed.

Villar said the country is best advised to elect leaders with a mature disposition and sensibility.

Aquino had earlier issued the challenge in a presidential forum where Villar was not able to attend.

Villar, his wife Las Piñas Rep. Cynthia Villar and his running mate Sen. Loren Legarda were in Hong Kong over the weekend to attend a prayer rally of the El Shaddai charismatic movement.

At that visit, the religious group's leader Bro. Mike Velarde made an informal endorsement of Villar-Legardas tandem.

But Lakas-Kampi-CMD lawmakers are asking Aquino why he is leaving out his cousin, former Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr., in his debate challenge.

“Why not Gibo?” veteran lawmakers hurled this question as they assailed Aquino for allegedly using his popularity as basis in choosing who must participate in political debates.

Reps. Danilo Suarez (Lakas-Kampi-CMD, Quezon ), Mauricio Domogan (Lakas-Kampi-CMD, Baguio City), and Pedro Romualdo (Lakas-Kampi-CMD, Camiguin) said Aquino should not leave out his cousin in his debate challenge.

While Aquino and Villar appear to be the favorite in poll surveys, observers have noted that they are the underdogs in presidential forums and debates being staged by various schools, media entities, and business and civic organizations.

Political analysts agree that Teodoro, a Philippine Bar topnotcher, has been gaining huge points from those who hear him speak on national issues and platform of governance that are usually raised during debates

Suarez slammed Aquino for resorting to results of recent survey ratings in asking Villar for a debate match.

“It’s not like boxing where only top contenders are scheduled to fight,” stated Suarez, chairman of the House Committee on Oversight.

Romualdo described Aquino’s challenge as “so elitist.”

“Don’t belittle the other bets like Gibo who is very much qualified to lead the country,” Romualdo said.

Asked Romualdo: “Is Noynoy afraid of debating with Gibo? If he is raring to debate then he must have the guts to go up against Gibo and other bets not just Villar.”

Domogan said that just because Aquino is leading the survey does not mean he can already act like he is bullying anyone who he thinks could frustrate his ambition.